Story by
Berube lays defensive blueprint in 71-39 exhibition win over Lewis
- Story by
- Berube lays defensive blueprint in 71-39 exhibition win over Lewis
The Lewis Flyers scored on their first two possessions Friday night at Welsh-Ryan Arena. Mallory Ramage, who was named to the All-Great Lakes Valley Conference First Team, made back-to-back threes to give the Flyers a 6-3 lead 1:15 into the game. For a moment, the night had the makings of an upset.
That did not last.
Advertisement
Northwestern went on to shut out Lewis for the next 13:32, scoring 17 unanswered. Lewis broke its scoring drought at the start of the second quarter on two Mallory Ramage free throws, but it would take 14 field goals and 15:11 of game time before it broke its field goal drought on a layup from junior Megen Sanaj with 3:34 left in the half. But, by then, Northwestern had already run off to a 33-13 lead.
That stretch decided the game as the Wildcats went on to win 71-39 in their lone exhibition game. The win, which marked the first of Carla Berube's tenure in Evanston, fit exactly what NU's new head coach said her program in Evanston would be built on.
"I think that's where we'll be hanging our hat on," Berube said afterward about the defense. "Making it hard for our opponents to get a good shot."
That identity got Berube on Northwestern's radar during her time at Princeton. In her first season with the Tigers, they led Division I teams in scoring defense, allowing just 47.9 points per game.
Advertisement
Lewis ended the game shooting 12-of-49 (24.5%) from the field, including 1-for-10 in the third quarter. The Wildcats forced 18 turnovers, converted them into 23 points, and pushed the pace, outscoring the Flyers 15-0 in the fast break. On Tuesday, Ramage scored 20 against Loyola Chicago. After those two opening buckets, she only managed one more against the Wildcats.
Harter seemed very comfortable in her debut under Berube. The senior led with a game-high 24 points and added on three blocks. She also moved to point guard after sophomore guard Camdyn Nelson sat out the latter part of the game with cramps, underscoring Berube's emphasis on versatility with four transfers starting alongside Harter.
"When we went in the portal, we wanted players with versatility," Berube said.
One of those transfers was junior guard Lily Carmody, who brought a physical edge to the team with 15 points, eight rebounds and three steals while drawing 10 fouls. She had no problem being the focus of Lewis' aggression.
Advertisement
"That's probably one of my best parts of basketball," Carmody said. "Getting in people's grills and getting under their skin."
But Berube didn't want to claim the big win as a finished product.
"There were others where we need to get better at it," she said of the defensive possessions.
To end the first half, Lewis went on a 7-0 run and scored 13 points in the fourth, its highest mark. The Wildcats also turned the ball over 14 times, a concern given the Big Ten talent waiting.
Depth was also a concern. Up until halfway through the third quarter, Northwestern had played just seven players before giving the bench more opportunity. Injuries played a part, with Berube saying the return of those players would help.
Advertisement
"I think they're going to play a lot," she said of her transfers. "Would love to not play them that much."
All in all, it was about as good an opening night as you could ask for. Next up, the Wildcats head into regular season play against Milwaukee on Tuesday, Nov. 3 at 7 p.m. CDT at Welsh-Ryan Arena.
